The species of Taxus are more geographically than morphologically separable; and they were all treated by Pilger (1903) as subspecies of Taxus baccata. All species are poisonous; most contain the anti-cancer agent taxol; and a study of heartwood constituents of Taxus baccata, Taxus brevifolia, Taxus cuspidata and Taxus floridana found them to be chemically almost identical. However, the vast ecological amplitude displayed by the various described species (over 60° of latitude and an impressive temperature and precipitation range) suggests that they are, in a meaningful sense, true species. Detailed study of the genus (not neglecting the cultivated representatives), including extensive fieldwork, is much needed and long overdue[].
Taxus mairei was treated as a variety of Taxus chinensis in Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae 7: 443, but transferred to Taxus wallichiana later and so treated in Flora of China[]. It has also been synonymized with Taxus chinensis, in which case Taxus mairei would have priority and the species should have that name, not Taxus chinensis. Taxus wallichiana, Taxus chinensis and Taxus mairei are treated as distinct species here (following Farjon, A. 2010. A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.), although the distinctions are minor and confined to leaf morphology only[].

Common Name:

General Information

Taxus mairei is an evergreen shrub or a tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall. The bole, which often branches from low down, can be up to 130cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is harvested on a commercial basis for its stems and bark, which are used to make the anticancer drug 'taxol'.
Although this species is fairly widespread in China, it has undergone significant population reduction in the last three generations (100 years), especially since the 1990s, due to exploitation of the tree (through logging and debarking) to extract the chemicals for the production of taxol. The reduction could possibly even be higher than 50%, though there is insufficient evidence to support this. Attempts have begun to propagate this species to meet future demands from cultivated rather than wild sources. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant, except the flesh of the fruit (actually an aril), are potentially highly poisonous. They contain the alkaloid taxine and , if ingested, can cause nervousness, trembling, slow pulse, pupil dilation, difficult breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and convulsions - in larger doses it can be fatal, having a paralyzing affect on the heart[, , , , , , ].

Botanical References

Range

E, Asia - central and southern China, Nepal, northeastern India, Myanmar, Vietnam

Habitat

A scattered, often understorey tree in coniferous and mixed forest, more or less open, scrubby margins, especially on slopes with secondary vegetation, on rocky slopes and escarpments, often on limestone; at elevations from 100 - 3,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are very shade tolerant[], though they can also succeed in full sun. They thrive in almost any soil, acid or alkaline, as long as it is well-drained[, ]. Succeeds in dry soils. Plants grow best in a position sheltered from cold, dry winds[].
In forests it often occurs along streams, but in open terrain it can well grow at a distance from any surface water[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

We have no specific information for this species, but the fruit (a fleshy aril) of all members of the genus should be edible. The following is a general description.
Fruit - raw[, , , , ]. Very sweet and gelatinous, most people find it delicious though some find it sickly[]. A number of people who like the flavour do not like the texture which is often described as being 'snotty'[]
All other parts of this plant, including the seed, are highly poisonous. When eating the fruit you should spit out the large seed found in the fruit's centre. Should you swallow the whole seed it will just pass straight through you without harm. If it is bitten into, however, you will notice a very bitter flavour and the seed should immediately be spat out or it could cause some problems. The fruit is a fleshy berry about 10mm in diameter and containing a single seed[].

The twigs and leaves are used for making wine and tea in China, but care is required as the leaves are toxic[].

Medicinal

As with other species of Taxus, the leaves and bark have been used to extract taxanes for use as an anti-cancer drug[].

The following uses were originally stated for Taxus baccata growing wild in India. It is now considered that Taxus baccata is not found wild in India and that references to that taxon apply to Taxus mairei and Taxus wallichiana (both in the eastern Himalayas) and Taxus contorta (in the western Himalayas)
The leaves and fruits are antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, emmenagogue and sedative[]. The leaves are used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitism hiccough, epilepsy and indigestion[].
Care should be taken in the use of this remedy - see notes above on toxicity.

Other Uses

The bark of most, if not all species of taxus is a moderate source of tannins[, ]. It is used in several species to produce a red dye[].

The uses of this species are presumably similar to those stated in Flora of China 4: 90 (1999) under Taxus wallichiana and are to provide building material, to make tools used in agriculture and gardens in the countryside, furniture, and stationery[].

Propagation

Seed - can be very slow to germinate, often taking 2 or more years[, ]. It is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn when it should germinate 18 months later. Stored seed may take 2 years or more to germinate. 4 months warm followed by 4 months cold stratification may help reduce the germination time[]. Harvesting the seed 'green' (when fully developed but before it has dried on the plant) and then sowing it immediately has not been found to reduce the germination time because the inhibiting factors develop too early[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in pots in a cold frame. The seedlings are very slow-growing and will probably require at least 2 years of pot cultivation before being large enough to plant out. Any planting out is best done in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[].
Cuttings of half-ripe terminal shoots, 5 - 8cm long, July/August in a shaded frame. Should root by late September but leave them in the frame over winter and plant out in late spring[]. High percentage[].
Cuttings of ripe terminal shoots, taken in winter after a hard frost, in a shaded frame[].
Layering